Tim Lewis and Lauren Regan are going to have a legal observer and cop watch training and mini know your rights training Wednesday, at 8pm at 1274 W. 7th Ave. (corner of 7th & Polk, the old AAA Appliance Building)
Yearly Archives: 2011
12. 18 December Movie and Discussion-“What Would Jesus Buy?”
What Would Jesus Buy?
The movie Santa doesn’t want you to see
Monday, December 19th 7:00pm
@ Cozmic Pizza/ 8th & Charnelton
Cosponsored by the Lane branch-Industrial Workers of the World and Occupy Eugene
Free
Documentary about the Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir on a cross-country mission to save Christmas from the Shopocalypse (the end of humankind from consumerism, over-consumption and the fires of eternal debt.)
All proceeds will be donated to Occupy Eugene
Occupy Eugene responds to Police Expenditure
Occupy Eugene applauds the city council for recognizing that homelessness is an issue requiring more significant attention, and for allocating greater funding for Eugene’s houseless population.
However, Occupy Eugene did not request funds for an increased police presence at the site, and maintains that the site has been running adequately with the help of volunteer peace keepers and calling the EPD if necessary. On many occasions, the systems in place at the site have demonstrated their effectiveness by providing emergency medical resources, and the community in camp has increasingly begun removing individuals who are unable or unwilling to abide by the rules regarding peaceful and lawful co-existence adopted by the General Assembly.
The extra expense of police presence to tax payers is not at the request of Occupy Eugene.
12. 17 Open Assembly for the Public
Today, Dec 17 we invite any members of our community who are interested in Occupy Eugene to come to this Open Assembly. If you are interested in Occupy, and have yet to plug in, we send a special invitation to new faces.
WHEN: 4pm – 6pm
WHERE: 1274 W. 7th Ave. (7th & Polk), Eugene, OR (old AAA Appliance Building)
Occupy Eugene Celebrates Milestone, Will Continue Protest
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:press@
occupyeugenemedia.org, @OccupyEugene
Occupy Eugene Celebrates Milestone, Will Continue Protest
On December 14th, Occupy Eugene reached a milestone in its ongoing protest after the City Council offered another extension of the municipal camping ban exemption, which has afforded the movement a legal occupation site since late October. In contrast to the fate of many Occupies in other cities, Occupy Eugene continues to actively engage with city officials, seeking partnership in addressing both acute and systemic social and economic issues.
Occupy Eugene presented the City Council with a proposal formulated in its consensus-based General Assembly, requesting an extension of the camping ban exemption to afford it more time to continue to develop its innovative community-centered social justice project. In response, the city agreed to extend the exemption until January 11, 2012. The city also committed an estimated $300,000 to fund various programs targeting issues highlighted by Occupy Eugene, but not directly to the movement itself, including $100,000 earmarked for expanded “wet-bed” facilities and areas modeled after the existing Egan Warming Centers to protect the city’s unhoused population from exposure on particularly cold nights.
Although this expenditure marks an increase in the city’s overall social service funding, and opens the possibility of reversing a years-long trend of cutting such expenditures, the city-proposed plan is far from perfect. “Many of us are encouraged by the City Council’s obvious commitment to addressing issues of obvious injustice in the community,” said Occupy Eugene member Shaun Haskins. “But the heavy emphasis on police costs as part of the overall package is disheartening because so much more good could be done with that hundred thousand or so dollars.” Councilor Chris Pryor (Ward8) seems to agree, at least in principle: “I’d rather spend money on helping folks…I think it is a good thing that we are talking about something that we really haven’t managed to focus on before. I do not want to support a position that moves everybody back into the bushes and back under the bridges.”
For Occupy Eugene, the city’s decision signals the beginning of a new phase of engagement with both the city government and the community. “The gains we made today with the City Council show exactly how our model of protest combined with service can be effective in shaping both the priorities of our elected officials and the public conversation in directions that more expressly serve the acute needs of our community,” explained OE member Jamil Jonna. “At the same time, it highlights the fact that our movement’s goal is a more fundamental, systemic change, targeting the root causes of which homelessness and chronic poverty are only symptoms.”
This press release has been approved by the General Assembly of Occupy Eugene.
###
OE General Assembly Responds to City Council Proposal
The Eugene City council will decide tomorrow at noon (Dec 14th) whether or not to extend the camping exemption to allow the occupation to continue at Washington / Jefferson Park. If you would like to attend, please be at 777 Pearl Street – 12:00pm, the meeting will be held in the McNutt Room. Please see our discussion of the current proposal as far as we understand it. Essentially, Occupy Eugene would be given 45 days past the original deadline of Dec 15th and then would be asked to “de-camp” by the City.
If the camping ban exemption is not extended, Occupy Eugene will have 72 hours to vacate the camp. Should this happen, there will be an emergency GA tomorrow at 7pm (at the occupation site), to discuss our options.
In the late evening hours of December 13th, 2011, Occupy Eugene General Assembly reached consensus on the following proposal to City Council.
Proposal
A: Occupy Eugene requests City Council to extend the camping ban exemption, and to postpone the City Council’s vote on the motion before them until January 9th , so that Occupy Eugene, social services, and the City can draft a more concrete proposal.
B: If the City Council declines to postpone its vote on the motion before them until January 9th, Occupy Eugene requests at least 90 days to remain onsite until a better solution is revisited, as per our agreement as consensed on by the GA.
Consent was reached on 12/13/11 by Occupy Eugene with 1 stand aside.
12.16 Winter Feast Friday!!
On Friday December 16th, In the Spirit of Winter Solstice, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Festivus, and every other Holiday Tradition, we heartily welcome one and all to the Geodesic Dome at Washington/Jefferson Park to help us celebrate Occupy Eugene’s December Birthdays with a very special Winter Feast!
Music will start at 4:00pm and will feature “Scotty and Friends” (of the Sugar Beets) and a community potluck will begin at 5:00pm. Egg nog will be provided! (vegan and non-vegan)
After the General Assembly at 7:00pm, the celebration will continue with bellydancers and firedancing into the night!
Eugene Occupy Camp: To Be Or Not To Be
Two of the most experienced, effective and respected community leaders working with the homeless population, Chuck Gerard of the White Bird Clinic and the Rev. Dan Bryant of First Christian Church in Eugene provide interesting observations about the surprising impact of the Eugene Occupy Camp and how its unprecedented work with the homeless is helping them in their work and the entire Eugene community.
“It makes no sense to me to try and dismantle the camp unless the city comes up with an alternative that is at least viable or better, in the middle of winter it seems ridiculous to take this thing apart right now…Unless there is a better resource, I think that Occupy Should not only be left wehre it is but be supported in doing what it is trying to acomplish”
-Chuck Gerard of the White Bird Clinic
Check out video link here.
Also available in : Spanish
12. 14 Occupy the Speakeasy: A Benefit for Occupy Eugene and the Eugene Seventeen
When: Wed December 14, 9:30pm-2:00am
Where: Oak Street Speakeasy
915 Oak St, Eugene, OR 97401
What: Join with us and help Occupy the Oak Street Speakeasy! Occupy Eugene has organized a benefit for the Eugene Seventeen – the seventeen demonstrators of civil disobedience who were arrested outside Chase and Bank of America on November 17th. Featuring music from Almond Davis and Aeon Now, among others, as well as spoken word, performance art, dance, slam poetry, and speakers. Suggested donations of $5-$5,000 go to help with legal fees and fines incurred, as well as toward the Occupy Eugene general fund to improve outreach programs and occupation site needs. Please spread the word and come if you can; no one will be turned away for lack of funds, but it is 21+. Come in from the cold for some delicious beverages, fantastic music, encouraging words, and radical persuasions. More events to come…
Check out the event on Facebook!
Occupy Eugene Member Hurt in Hit and Run
Dusk Winston, one of the 17 Occupy Eugene members arrested on November 17th actions was hit by a car yesterday in Portland, OR while participating in the actions to shutdown Portland commercial ports.
Seen in the nearly 1 minute video above, protestors were gathered nonviolently in the street when a car approaches and without stopping continues to drive through the crowd.
This is a 2,000 pound vehicle violently being used to hit peaceful, nonviolent protestors.
Dusk Winston has a badly hurt knee, though exact details are unknown.
Witnesses at the scene said police observed the hit and run and did nothing to apprehend the driver.
Dusk commented today,
“Unfortunately this has happened at a lot of the occupy movements and complaints go unnoticed. I am calling PPD today to file a complaint.”
A legal observer attached to Occupy Eugene wrote down the driver’s license plate: 329LHB.
This Wednesday, is a benefit for Occupy Eugene and the 17 people who were arrested during the November 17th actions. Considering the arrest and now being hit by a car, let’s get as many attendees as we can to show our support for Dusk and the others’ who have made many sacrifices.
Wednesday, Dec 14th, 9pm – 2am
Oak Street Speakeasy
915 Oak St, Eugene, OR 97401
Facebook Event Page
For those not on Facebook, here is the event description:
Join with us and help Occupy the Oak Street Speakeasy! Occupy Eugene has organized a benefit for the Eugene Seventeen – the seventeen demonstrators of civil disobedience who were arrested outside Chase and Bank of America on November 17th. Featuring music from Almond Davis and Aeon Now, among others, as well as spoken word, performance art, dance, slam poetry, and speakers. Suggested donations of $5-$5,000 go to help with legal fees and fines incurred, as well as toward the Occupy Eugene general fund to improve outreach programs and occupation site needs. Please spread the word and come if you can; no one will be turned away for lack of funds, but it is 21+. Come in from the cold for some delicious beverages, fantastic music, encouraging words, and radical persuasions. More events to come…